𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 , the walking dead

[57] the protector

THE PROTECTOR
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WITH HIS HEAD RESTING ON THE INFIRMARY BED, Milo could feel himself drifting off into sleep once again. For the last few days, he's been beside Maggie's bed through all of it—waiting for her to wake up. The doc says she will, just needed time, and Milo was known for being impatient. Sasha came and went, she was with Jesus most of the time working some things out.

So, when Milo felt some movement from from near his head, he couldn't help but jolt up. Staring down at the girl who was a little smaller than she was when she got here. Her skin paler, lips chapped and eyes with heavy bags under them. Milo just looked at her, waiting to see if he had just imagined her moving—again.

But, thankfully it wasn't in his head this time. Maggie's eyes started to fluter open. Squinting as the sun creeping through the window clouded her vision and burned her eyes, Milo sat up straighter—quickly taking her hand in his to assure her she wasn't alone.

"Maggie—Mags, hey." Milo said softly, his voice hoarse from yelling so much lately. He's had a few words with the leader, Gregory—who instantly wanted to turn them away. Then, out of anger he had gotten mad at the doc when he said Maggie wouldn't wake up for a few days. It was just added to the list of things that weighed on his shoulders.

Maggie seems panicked at first, looking every where but at Milo as she tries to gather where she is and what happened. Milo wasn't about to remind her of it all, or tell her that on their journey here—she passed out and Milo had to carry her the rest of the way on foot for miles and miles.

So instead, Milo stood from the bed and knocked on the door loudly. Quickly returning to his seat next to Maggie, her eyes following him in scared confusion. Having her only more confused as Dr. Carson walked back inside, greeting Maggie by saying, "Welcome back. You're at Hilltop colony, you've been asleep for awhile."

Maggie looked away from the doctor and to Milo, his eyes only looking at her with concern but a soft caring concern that didn't overwhelm her. But it let her know, he was there, he was there for her and that she just had to hold on for a little longer.

So she turned back to the Dr. Carson as he explained, "You suffered from a condition abruptio placentae. It's separation of the placenta from the uterus. It unusual this early, but could be caused by trauma."

Maggie's eyes closed, a tear calling down her pale yet rosy cheek as she swallowed, trying to get rid of the dryness that filled her. "Did I—I...lose...?"

Milo squeezes her hand, bringing it to his chest holding it near his heart. This caused Maggie to open her eyes, and look at him. Fear of the words he spoke next, watching his features closely, watching his face remain soft and caring. That's when he started to shake his head from side to side, "The baby's fine, Maggie. You're both fine."

Maggie exhaled in pure relief, half of the pain leaving her body while the rest lingered horribly. Still, it was a win—her baby was okay. Was alive.

This caused another tear to fall from Maggie's eye, squeezing Milo's hand so tight that it pained him. But he'd feel that pain ten times worse if she needed it, Milo lets his hands be hers.

At the moment Dr. Carson offered for her to listen to the heartbeat, Maggie was still too overwhelmed to speak so Milo nodded his head for her. Stepped aside slightly closer to Maggie's head as Dr. Carson puts stuff on Maggie's lower abdomen and pulls out the ultrasound machine.

As he worked the machine, it only took a few seconds for the sound to be heard. They all listened silently to the faint heartbeat that came from the machine, and Maggie started to tear up even more. Bringing Milo's hand to her chest this time, needing him closer, needing someone there to remind herself she was also alive. Just like her baby.